Level 4 Junior Management Consultant 

 

A 24-month junior management programme

 

Programme Overview:

Management consultants provide business advice to public, private and not-for-profit organisations. This usually involves helping them solve a challenge of some kind, such as how to grow their business, how to make it more efficient or how to organise and structure itself in a different way. Some specialist consultancies have a particular focus – for example, how to write proposals for new work, or how to change an organisation or how to develop their workforce. Others are more generalist, and you could work across several different types of projects. Working on client site away from your office is a possibility, while hours are varied and often depend on the project.   

Tasks can be varied. You might be involved in conducting research, analysing and interpreting data or be responsible for organising the logistics of the project. As you develop and progress, you might be involved in contributing to report writing which uses statistical evidence to support recommendations and conclusions or support the creation of slide decks to deliver key messages to clients. You might also become more focused on a particular type of service offering (financial, strategic, operational, etc.) or industry (financial services, public sector, telecommunications etc.).   

 

What you will learn – Knowledge and understanding   

Business environment  

Know the different industry sectors, the types of organisations within these sectors, and how a management consultancy can support their needs.  

 

Management consultancy business  

Know how a consultancy typically works, how it manages relationships with its clients, and understand the ethical considerations it operates under.    

 

Business finances  

Know key financial ratios and performance indicators (such as balance sheets and cash flow forecasts) that are necessary to effectively assess an organisation’s financial health.    

 

Project management  

Know how a project moves through its lifecycle of planning, design, development, testing, deployment and evaluation. Know what risks and issues are and how to report and monitor them to project and client teams.  

The above technical knowledge will be understood through formal learning and applied according to the business environment.   

 

Junior Management Consultants have the skills within the context of their own organisation to:  

Communication skills  

Speak and write clearly, influence others, actively listen, question effectively and structure conversations. Support or run meetings and clearly present a point of view to audiences. Communicate appropriately through a variety of channels and platforms.    

 

Team working skills  

Work effectively within a group environment made up of different personality types. Be aware of one’s own and other people’s emotions and use this understanding to guide decisions.    

 

Business analysis  

Use a range of tools and methodologies to help analyse an organisation (such as SWOT analysis). Undertake qualitative and quantitative research.    

 

Relationship building  

Build rapport and trust, maintain relationships once they are built and be able to repair them when they are damaged.   

 

Personal management  

Manage time effectively and prioritise workloads. Take time to reflect on project successes and learn from failure. Maintain good health and energy through a work / life balance.    

 

Project management  

Plan, organise and manage resources in order to achieve set goals. Help create objectives at the start of a project, support the development and implementation of project plans and help monitor progress. Proactively identify risks and issues and help create action plans to address these.    

 

IT technical capabilities  

Be able to assist in the creation of reports, word processed documents, spreadsheets, slide decks for presentation and software for project management. These are the most prominent, though there are others depending on the consultancy.  

 

Report writing  

Help produce reports that clearly present recommendations for change using a range of qualitative information and numerical data.    

The above skills will be acquired and demonstrated, through a process of continuous self-improvement, in a changing and sometimes pressured environment. 

  

Junior Management Consultants demonstrate the following behaviours: 

Professionalism  

Reflect the expected behaviours of the organisation, project and client teams. Be tactful and discreet with sensitive information and protect confidentiality.  

 

 Self-development  

Frequently seek and act upon feedback, reflect on performance and have a desire for learning.   

 

Adaptability  

Be flexible to the needs of the project (working times and locations). Be open minded and able to work with a range of different people.  

 

Adherence to legal and ethical frameworks  

Work within legal and ethical frameworks to protect all stakeholders, including the client, from reputational damage.   

The above behaviours will be developed and exhibited, while adhering to high standards of quality.  

 

How is the course assessed?  

Full time work-based learners will typically spend 18/24 months on-programme working towards the apprenticeship standard, with a minimum of 20% off this time being off-the-job training.  

Learners without English and Maths at a level 2 must achieve level 2 prior to taking their End Point Assessment (EPA).  

The end point assessment should only start once the employer is satisfied that the gateway requirements for EPA have been met and that the learner is consistently working at or above the level set out in the standard.  

Through the journey to the gateway with GEM Partnership you will complete a set of mini gateways ensuring that you are ready to take the EPA.  

On-programme assessment, the learner will be expected to keep a reflective log and gather evidence against each of the competencies illustrating the application of knowledge, skills and behaviours. Although any evidence that is assessed during the on-programme period of the learning journey cannot be used for the EPA, gathering it will encourage the learner to continuously reflect on their learning and development plan.  

The EPA consists of three distinct assessment methods:   

• Reflective portfolio  
• Presentation   
• Panel Interview  

Performance in the EPA will determine the learner grade of fail, pass, merit or distinction.